The Stepmother by Sally Rigby and Amanda Ashby Book Review

She'll do anything for them….

Another gripping, well-written page-turner from the writing duo of Sally Rigby and Amanda Ashby. It kept me engrossed in the story from cover to cover with an unexpected twist that made for the perfect ending.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Release Date: Oct 30, 2023

BRAND NEW FROM SALLY RIGBY AND AMANDA ASHBY

She’ll do anything to protect her family…

From the moment I met Nathan, a widower with two small children, I knew I would do anything for him. Sam and Sienna were both desperate for a mother and I knew I was perfect for them. I would raise them as my own. Love them like my own.

I would die for them.

So when a missing teenager is found lying on the side of the road, my first through is for my precious kids. Are they home? Are they safe?

And then I discover something much worse. That the children I’ve raised could somehow be involved…

But I made a promise that I would protect my family at all costs.

Even if the consequences are deadly….

My Thoughts

Libby Curtis is the stepmother, who loves her husband and children like they were her own. Nathan married Libby 10 years ago when the twins were 7 and their natural mother died in childbirth. They are 17 now. The book starts with Libby, who is a paramedic, attending a call of an injured female in a drug induced stupor. Her partner Jonathan notices that Libby is not looking well and kind of stumbling. He is worried, but the issue is that Libby recognizes the girl as Hayley, a friend of her daughter, Sienna. Hayley is a mess and confused but says she had been locked up but she escaped. Things only get worse when Libby discovers some unsettling information that seem to point to her children being involved in whatever happened to Hayley. Sam is being secretive and Libby finds evidence in his car that makes her suspect him of something to do with Hayley, but what exactly? Sienna is going through a goth phase, dressing in all black, and staying in her room alone not hanging out with friends. She is being insolent and very disrespectful to Libby and has her own secrets. We can’t forget about Nathan’s frail, elderly mom. She seems too sweet and endearing What’s really going on? What is she hiding? The trouble that happened with Hayley created a snowball effect. Their lives are going to change when secrets from the past start to unravel. It starts when an unknown blogger comes to Bournemouth and approaches Libby with startling accusations about her family’s past. Gemma, the blogger, seems a little bit quirky but in a good way. She has a blog dedicated to Colin Wallace, a killer suspected of killing missing boys years ago. She is determined to uncover the mystery of her brother’s kidnapping from back then and something about Hayley’s abduction reminds her of the murder that Colin was convicted of. She does some digging and the clues lead her to Libby and Nathan in Bournemouth. Once Gemma puts herself in the middle of it all, the story takes a drastic turn, and everything you thought you had figured out goes in another direction.

This is a psychological/domestic thriller that explores themes of how far a mother would go to protect her children, even if they aren’t her own. It also provides insight into complicated family relationships when deception and lies creep in.

The characters are believable and well-rounded with unique personalities that keep the story fresh and exciting. The more you get to know them you realize that you don’t know who you can trust because everyone has some kind of secret or hidden agenda.

The writer’s voice Is captivating and realistic. The prose is lyrical, powerful, and flows effortlessly.

A thrilling and suspenseful plot paired with well-paced twists and turns made this book a delightful read. It was a mystery clear to the end when everything came together in an explosive conclusion.

Throughout the entire story, we are reminded that Libby will always protect her family. It makes me question how far would I go to protect my family? Does that include illegal activities or even worse, killing someone? Very thought-provoking.

My Recommendation

Sally Rigby and Amanda Ashby have given us a psychological thriller that is written with precision and detailed observations. Like the last book of theirs that I read, it has everything that I want in a psychological thriller. I highly recommend not only this book, but all of the books that this power duo have written together. They are on my must-read list. I applaud Sally and Amanda for their talent of grabbing a readers attention and keeping it with perfectly written stories. I give The Stepmother a Goodreads rating 4 and a job well done.

Happy Thanksgiving 😊

Shari

About the Authors

Amanda Ashby

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also works in a library, owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture.

She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.

She also loves giving things away, so head to her website and grab a FREE book today www.amandaashby.com

Sally Rigby

Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, UK. After leaving university she worked in magazines and radio, before finally embarking on a career lecturing in both further and higher education. Sally has always had the travel bug and after living in Manchester and London moved overseas with her family to New Zealand which she considers to be one of the most beautiful place in the world. Sally now lives in Winchester, UK.

Sally is the author of the acclaimed Cavendish and Walker series, and the more recent Detective Sebastian Clifford series. In collaboration with another author, Amanda Ashby, she also writes psychological thrillers for Boldwood Books.

Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programs. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.